Save Food Production and Agriculture in Gaza
For 11 consecutive days,
Israeli Occupation Forces continued to disregard International and Humanitarian
Laws by imposing collective punishment on Palestinians in Gaza. As of May 21st,
Israel’s massacres have resulted in the killing of over 260 martyrs including
60 children and 40 women. More than 1,900 people have been injured where more
than 60% of them are children and women, many of whom have survived with
permanent disabilities. This all comes in addition to the fact that more than
373,000 children are now in need for long-term psychological support, according
to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The Palestinian
Ministry of Information – Government Media Office, announced that 120,000
people were forcibly displaced from their homes. According to the UN Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) latest report on the 21st of
May 2021, as of 20th May,
over 77,000 IDPs were seeking protection in 58 UNRWA schools, including in 23
designated emergency shelters (DES). Following the announcement of the
ceasefire, the vast majority are returning home, but about one thousand, whose homes were
destroyed or severely damaged, remain.
Gaza’s MoA
estimated around $27 million in damage that included greenhouses, agricultural
lands and poultry farms. The United Nations and aid groups said Palestinians
now had limited or no access to water facilities. 490 agricultural facilities
such as animal farms, wells and irrigation networks were damaged according to
the information shared by The Palestinian
Ministry of Information – Government Media Office in Gaza. 11 sewage stations
were bombed, 50 water wells were destroyed, 17,200 meter sewage network length
were destroyed, 10,500 square meter road network are also destroyed. 14,000
meter length water pipes completely destroyed. In addition to the main streets
and infrastructure being bombed and destroyed.
According to the MoA in Gaza, the damage to the livestock production
sectors is doubling on a daily basis. Over the past few days, cow breeders have
destroyed more than 15 thousand liters of milk, because they are unable to
market them. The highlighted risk for farmers and breeders to access their
lands and agricultural facilities remains of concern. In addition to tens of
sheep lost and a number of beehives destroyed as a result of the hostilities.
Until today, there is a full closure of the sea, leading to a complete
disruption of fishing activities affecting 3,600 fisher
households. The destruction of An Na’jeh
water well and water transmission pipelines in North Gaza has disrupted the
access to water for about 50,000 people in the area. Other water wells in the
area were also reportedly damaged. Water and sewage networks were also damaged
in Beit Lahia, disrupting operations, and resulting in loss of water and
leakages of wastewater, affecting at least 65,000 people. The North Gaza
Seawater Desalination Plant has stopped operating due to the risk that faces workers
and a damaged electrical supply line, affecting the access of about 250,000
people to drinking water. The shortage of electricity still affects all Gaza
WASH facilities, including water wells and reservoirs and wastewater treatment
plants.
The United Nations said
approximately 800,000 people in Gaza do not have regular access to clean piped
water, as nearly 50 percent of the water network was damaged in the bombing.
UAWC emergency damage assessment
team and local committees in Gaza and West Bank counted and calculated damage
through field visits to all cities in Gaza. According to the Initial Rapid Assessment conducted
by UAWC’s team, it is estimated that: